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It's a shame that keyboards with programmable key images didn't get more widespread usage beyond Optimus [1]. I currently have a Corsair K95 RBG keyboard and it

It's a shame that keyboards with programmable key images didn't get more widespread usage beyond Optimus [1]. I currently have a Corsair K95 RBG keyboard and it's programmable 18x3 keys [1] are near unusable because I can never figure out what G1 or G2 does. But if I had programmable key images... [1] http://www.artlebedev.com/optimus/ http://www.artlebedev.com/optimus/ [2] http://www.corsair.com/en-us/landing/k95-rgb http://www.corsair.com/en-us/landing/k95-rgb

Cyph0n 10y ago
"Widespread usage" at a $1500 price point? I don't think so. Plus, how the hell did they reach that price? The keyboard looks pretty bland: https://youtu.be/A2RhpllpDn4 https://youtu.be/A2RhpllpDn4. I could just add a few hundred bucks and buy a new Macbook.
keyle 10y ago
If I recall I think the cost was too high for the feature gains.
userbinator 10y ago
https://www.engadget.com/2008/02/22/optimus-maximus-at-long-last-we-bring-one-home-to-test/ https://www.engadget.com/2008/02/22/optimus-maximus-at-long-... The Optimus was also not very comfortable for actual typing use, which probably put off a lot of potential customers.
amelius 10y ago
Do people actually look at their keyboard when typing? I think tactile feedback is still the biggest possible feature of a (real) keyboard.
- noir_lord 10y ago
  Some people probably do, I don't, half my keycaps wore off within a few months.
  - renke1 10y ago
    The programmers's war wounds.
ramblenode 10y ago
Kind of cool, but I'm trying to think of what this offers over just eye candy. Maybe it could aid key combinations, e.g. pressing the meta key illuminates other parts of the keyboard for completion. Finger DDR, whack-a-mole? As others have mentioned, looking at the keyboard is generally something to be avoided. The premise for this is sort of a workflow antipattern.
- arkitaip 10y ago
  It works best when you have a lot of additional blank function keys, like the Corsair K95 has, that you can both program and assign images to.

Cyph0n 10y ago

"Widespread usage" at a $1500 price point? I don't think so. Plus, how the hell did they reach that price? The keyboard looks pretty bland: https://youtu.be/A2RhpllpDn4 https://youtu.be/A2RhpllpDn4. I could just add a few hundred bucks and buy a new Macbook.

keyle 10y ago

If I recall I think the cost was too high for the feature gains.

userbinator 10y ago

https://www.engadget.com/2008/02/22/optimus-maximus-at-long-last-we-bring-one-home-to-test/ https://www.engadget.com/2008/02/22/optimus-maximus-at-long-... The Optimus was also not very comfortable for actual typing use, which probably put off a lot of potential customers.

amelius 10y ago

Do people actually look at their keyboard when typing? I think tactile feedback is still the biggest possible feature of a (real) keyboard.

noir_lord 10y ago
Some people probably do, I don't, half my keycaps wore off within a few months.
- renke1 10y ago
  The programmers's war wounds.

ramblenode 10y ago

Kind of cool, but I'm trying to think of what this offers over just eye candy. Maybe it could aid key combinations, e.g. pressing the meta key illuminates other parts of the keyboard for completion. Finger DDR, whack-a-mole? As others have mentioned, looking at the keyboard is generally something to be avoided. The premise for this is sort of a workflow antipattern.

arkitaip 10y ago
It works best when you have a lot of additional blank function keys, like the Corsair K95 has, that you can both program and assign images to.